Though Les Max Valentins never found mainstream success, it did release a few singles, and bandmember Gerald DePalmas decided that he wanted more. In 1994, after winning a televised talent competition, De Palmas signed to EMI and released his debut, La Dernière Année, the next year. The album's "Sur la Route" was a huge hit, propelling him into stardom; he won the Victoire de la Musique award for Best New Male Artist. Les Lois de la Nature (1997) flopped, but Marcher dans le Sable (2000) was a success. After writing songs for Celine Dion and Johnny Hallyday, De Palmas recorded Un Homme Sans Racines (2004). ~ Marisa Brown